Resilient wheel.



W. A. BLACK.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16. \BIB- 7 1,277,537. l'altenredficpt. 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR Fig.1;

WILLIAM A. BLACK, or SPQKANE, WASHINGTON.

l RESILIENT )WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

Application filed January 16, 1918. Serir No. 212,078.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, illman A. BLACK, at present residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of WVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvments in Resilient Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

TlllS invention relates to improvements in resilient wheels and more particuhurly to that class (if-wheels designed to eliminate tire and-in addition provide a Wheel that will provide increased resiliency between the tread and the driving axle to eliminate undue shock, incident to road travel and to absorb the excessive vibration due to rigid construction that also causes crystallization of the axle.

A further object of the invention consists inproviding a resilient wheel in which the spokes are formed of flat springs and provided with means whereby vibration of the individual spokes and shocks will be absorbedbefore being passed on to their connections with the metal hub.

Again, the invention has for its object to provide substantially rigid tractionspokes in combination with the springspokes, by means of which undue torque and pull strains on the spring-spokes may be avoided and theturning stresses encountered when the wheel is a driver wheel will be promptly transmitted to the rinifroin the hub, thus, leaving the springspqkes free to functionij iroperly and absorb the'shocks to the maximum degree.

The invention furthermore includes those novel details of construction, combination be first fully described, then specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is aperspectiti e View of my invention, the wheel being/designed as a driv; ing wheel.

' and arrangement of parts, all of which will Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail mrspectivc view partly in section showing the connections between the spokes and the rim;

Fig. 3 is a detail cross section through the hub structure on substantially the line 3-3 of Fig. 6 showing the normal cooperative position of the parts when the wheel is new.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the pc fan of the parts when wear has taken place and the spokes have.beco1ne loosened up.

Fig. shows the same parts as in Fig. 4 after they have been tightened up to take up the wear.

, Fig. (3 is a cross section on substantially the line. t3---6 of Figl 3, a part of the spoke retaining dish being broken away.

Fig. 7 is a detail cross section through the rim and tho spol c-lu ldir1g lugs.

Fig. 8 is a detail cross section of a modified rim structure.

' Fig. 9 is a detail longitudinal section showing the (,(HlllQCl'lOIl between the rim end of the traction-spoke and the rim.

Fig. l() is adetail perspective view of a portion oi one of the spoke-holding or retaining disks.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate ill-LE parts in all of the figures, 1 represents the rim which may be of any of the standard tvpcs of conventional. cross section, and the rim may be made in one piece, as in present practice. (see Fig. 2) or it may be made of a pluralitv of bands 1"--1 riveted or otherwise fastened together, (see Fig.

The rim is provided with pairs of cars or lugs 12 tor-the reception of the eye ends 6 of the sprlng-spokes l to wh ch the said ends 6 are pivoted by bolts 8. In order to form a bearing for the spoke ends 6 and prevent engagement between such ends and the rim, the ears or lugs 2 have concave seats 3 adjacent to the rim against which the spoke ends (5 bear.* 1

T he hub structure, which constitutes one of the important features of the invention, comprises a spindle 9 bored at 10 to fit on the shaft, and when the wheel is to be used as a driver wheel, the spindle may be provided with a key-band 11, (seeFig. 3). On the spindle are two flanges one 12, being fixed thereon while the other 15, has

- spokes but theouter a sliding fit on the spindle and is adjustable toward the fixed tlaiige by bolts 18 and by a cap l4 that fits the end 13 of the spindle.

The flange 12 may have a pro ecting portion 20 on its back to receive a rake drum 15) which also serves as a nut for the bolts '18, (it being bored and tapped at 21. for the purpose) when the wheel is used as a. driving wheel. 01 course, when the Wheel is not used as a driver, drum 19 may be omit ted and ordinary nuts substituted for co operation with the bolts 18.

Between the flanges 12 and 1,5 is a. pair of metal spoke-retaining disks 22 which fit on the spindle 9 and have radial slots 24 merging at their inner ends with recesses 23 in which the beaded or ends 7 of the springspokes t seat. Each disk 22 is also provided with radial slots 26---27 merging with intermediate recesses 25 tor the. recep tion of the ends Izf of the. tl'i'ttlil()lt'SPOkOS the beads 250 of which lie in the recesses Between the dis-ks 22 is. a em'npressible disk 16 of rubber or any resilient composition that will properly and effectively provide semi-rigid support for the inner ends of the spring-spokes. The disk 16 is of greater diai'neter than the disks 22 (about equal one of the flanges 12 or 15) and it preferably has depressions 17 to receive the disks 22. The disk 16 has radial spring spoke receiving slots 37 and recesses 36 and it. also is provided with traction-spoke receiving slots 2-3132 and recesses 30 correspondii'ig to the adjacent similar parts of the disks 22.

The bolts 18 preferably pass through the disk It at points beyond the periphery of the disks 22 for a purpose hereinafter understood.

'lhe spring-spokes 4 have straight end portions and. an intermediate bowed portion 5, the purpose of which will later appear.

'lhe traction-spokes 33 are of heavier structure and are 'l'dlt'll'lVQl) stiff or rigid and while they too have straight end portions and intern'iediate bowed portions, the outer ends are not fastened. to the rim nor do the outer ends have eyes like the springends of the spring spokes project between side ears 28 on the rim 1 or rim band 1, as the case may be, which ears serve to restrain the said spokes and rim against relative lateral or side movements, while roller carrying bolts 29 are located in front and in back of the ends of the spokes 33 between the edits 28 to take the driving strains; The outiTiends of the traction-spokes do not extendllhto contact.- with the rim, (see Fig. 9) so stlsto allow for the free action of the springspokes in going over road obstructions. A limited move meat is thus provided for the rim but should the. movement become extreine, the ends of the traction-spokes would touch the rim and prevent. further movement or moven'ient past the desired limits which would unduly effect the spring-spokes or place them past their limits of endurance.

When the wheel is assembled, the curved springspokes will bear the weight of the. vehicle and will absorb the shock through their length under running conditions. By reason of their pivotal connection with the rim and the hub, thewheel will be allowed a slight cireumferential movement with respect to the hub and to make this movement. resilient and provide that it will normally maintain a position with the spokes radially projecting from the hub, advantage is taken of the resilient. body 16 which engages the ends of the spokes nearest the hub so that a i'novement of any one spoke or series of spokes will cause stress upon the resilient tiller to provide a slight give and will insure the return of the spokes to the proper position when the strain has been removed. Thus when the wheel is used as a driver and power is applied to the driving shaft the first strain willbe absorbed in the hub and thence transferred to the spokes and thus smooth riding qualities are provided 'both in the circumferential resiliency and in the radial. It will also be noted by reference to the drawings, that the spokes directly below the center of the wheel will be under compression and the spokes directly above under tension so that at all times the spokes in opposite directions function with each other to more perfectly adjust the strain.

llv means of my construction, I am enabled by removing the flan e plate 15 to remove or replace any incividual spoke without the necessity of removing the entire wheel from the vehicle. This may be easily accomplished by first withdrawing the pin connecting the spoke and the rim and withdrawing the opposite end from the slotin its connection with the hub.

It. will be further observed that by employing the still or relatively rigid tractionspokes. relative annular motion between the rim andthe hub is in-large measure avoided,

thus reducing the stresses on the spring spokes whlch wouldcause too greatbending of the same, especially adjacent to the disks 22 and crystallization of the spoke metalwith constant breakage is avoided.

Since the disks 22 i or fastened to the spindle 9 or to the flanges 12 and 15, they can on the spindle should an unusual torque be applied which might hub-ends. Under ordinary use. the dis is 22 are held immovable by the frictional contact with the disk and 15.

are not positively keyed give or creep annular'l'y.

unduly bend the s eke 16 and withftheflanges 12 In order to still further reduce the danrim, the traction-spokes do not have pivotal.

. motion with relation .to the disks QQ bnt are keyed fast by the ends 33 which rest in the slot extension 27, thus making the tractionspokes and disks a rigid unit, as it PWere.

number so that the spring-spokes may be enabled to function properly regardless of the particular point at which 'the impact of the road obstruction is applied.

"Various minor changes in the design, pro portion of. parts and other details of construction may be made by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates in inorder t meet the varioiis conditions encountered .n practice, without departing from the .spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

So far as this application contains any matter in common with my application filed Qeptember 27, 1917, Serial No. 193311, the present application is a continuation thereof.

\Vhat I claim is IJ'A spring wheel including a rim, a hub formed with recesses enlarged at their inner ends, s iring-spokeshaving terminals formed to cooperate with the recesses and adapted to be engaged with the latter by laterally "sliding movements of the parts, the outer ends of said spring-spokes having pivotal connection with the rim, and tractionspokes having terminals formed to cooperate with recesses in the hub, and adapted to be engaged with the same by laterally sliding movements of the parts, brackets carried by the rimand slidably receiving the outer ends of the traction-spokes, and means connect ing the spring-spokes to the rim.

2. A spring wheel comprising a hub,- a rim, a plurality of flat spring-spokes connecting the hub and ri1n,a )lurality of traction -spokes secured in fixed relation to the hub and slidably connected with the rim, said traction spokes having the same general form as the spring spokes, 'whereby said traction spokes will-fieX under execs sivecompression strains.

3. A spring wheel comprisinga hub, a rim, a plurality of flat springspokes connecting the hub and rimJda plurality of traction-spokes secured in fixed relation to the hub and radially slic'ibly connected with the rim, said tractionspokes having.

the same general form as the spring spokes, whereby said traction spokes will flex under excessive compression strains.

hA spring wheel COITIIHl-Sll'lg a hub, a rim, and a pin 'ality of spokes connecting therim and the hub, said hub consisting of a central spindle and a flange fixed thereon, a flange slidably mounted onv the spindle, spring supporting disks mounted between said flanges on the spindle, a resilient body supported on the spindle betweenj'and extending beyond the peripheryof the disks andengaging the spokes and means for holding the flanges against separation.

A. spring wheel comprising a rim, radial. spokes and a, hub with a central spiih dle,'.i flange fixed on said spindle anda flange adjustablebn said spindle, flat apertured disks on said spindle adjacent to and vlocated between said flanges, said disks having spoke-rccei' ing slots adjacent to their peripheries and having enlarged recesses connected with said slots, said spokes having portions to project through said slots, headed ends for said'spokes adapted to fit said recesses, and a resilient cushion located between sa'id disks and extending circumfercntially thercbeyond and engaging with said spokes, said resilient cushion having slots and recesses COI'I'BSPOIIdiDg to those of the disks in which the spokes lie, said spokes being formed of fiat spring metal and pivotally connected to the rim.

6. A spring wheel comprising a hub, a rim, a plurality of radially extending springspokes having straight end portions and slightly curved central portions andpiy otally connected with therim and the hub,

anda plurality of spring-spokesconnecting the rim and thehub, said spokes each consisting of a flat bowed spring with an eye at the hub end, a hub which consists of a spindle with flanges thereon, one of whichis adjustable toward the other, means for holding said flanges in relative. ppsitions,fs 'iring-' spoke retaining disks mounted upon said spindle between said tl'anges'and provided with slots for holding th'e hub I ends o said spring-spokes in correlatiye position, at least.

one t-IflGtlOl'bSPOkB cooperatively connected with the rim and hub, said retainingt sks.

being provided with means for retainingsaid traction-spoke, said traction spoke extending adjacent to the rim, a socket memher on the rim into which said tractionspoke is slidably' projected, said tractionspoke terminating'shortof contact with the rim.

8. A spring wheel comprising a hub, 'a rim and a plurality of spring-spokes connecting the rim and the hub, said spokes each consisting of a fiat bowed spring with an eye at holding dlSkS thehub end, a hub which consists of a spin dle with flanges thereon, one of which is adjustable toward the other, spring-spoke re- 'taining dis'ks mounted upon said spindle between the said flanges and provided with slots for holding the hub ends of said springspokes in cooperative position, at least one traction-spoke cooperatively connected with the rim and the hub, said retaining disks being provided withmeans for retaining said traction spoke, said traction-spoke extending adjacent to the rim, a socket member on the rim into which said traction-spoke is slidably rojected, said traction-spoke terminating siiort of contact with the rim, and a yieldable' body mounted on the hub in which the hub ends of said spokes are embedded, and means for holding the flanges of said hub in place.

9. In a wheel wherein is provided a hub and a rim with flat springspokes connected to the hub and pivoted to the rim; pairs of spaced lugs separately secured to the rim, pivot bolts connecting opposite lugs of a pair, on which bolts the spokes are adapted to be mounted, said lugs having concaved spoke seats adjacent to the rim which form bearings for the ends of the spokes.

10. A spring wheel comprising a rim and a hub, radial flat sprin spokes connecting the hub and rim, said hu comprising a central spindle, a flange fixed thereon, a second .flfimlgle ad 'ustable along the spindle toward t e disks on 'the spindle ofless diameter than the hub flanges, a compressible disk on the spindle between the spoke-holding disks and of a diameter greater than that of the spoke holdin disks and recessed whereby said spokeolding disks will be embedded in said compressible disk, said spokes having their hub ends embedded in said compressible disk and interlocked with said spoke-holding is s.

11. A spring wheel comprising a rim and a hub, radial flat sprin -spokes connecting the hub and rim, said hu comprising a 'cen-' tral spindle, ajflange fixed thereon, a second flange adjustable along the spindle toward the fixed flange, flat apertured spoke-holding .disks on the spindle o lessdia'meter than the hub flanges, a 'compressibledisk on'the spin-- 'dle between the spoke-holding disks and of a diameter greater than that of the spokeand recessed to receive: said spoke-holding disks, .said disks all having radial spoke slots with 'head-g'eceiving re- Copies of this patent may be obtained for xed ange, fiat apertured spoke-holding spokes connecting the hub and rim, said hub comprising a central spindle,-a flange fixed thereon, a second flan e adjustable along the spindle toward the fixed flange, flat aper tured spoke-holding disks on the spindle of less diameter than'the hub flanges, a com pressible disk on the spindle between the spoke-holding disks, and of a diameter greater than that of the spoke holding disks, said disks having, radial spring-spoke receiving slots terminating at their inner ends in head-receiving recesses, said spring-spokes having heads to fit said recesses and being adapted to project through said radial slots, said disks also having radial traction-spoke receiving slot-s with head recesses intermediate the ends of the slots and said tractionspokes adapted to lie in said last named radial slots and having heads located to fit the respective recesses and means for holding the hub parts together, all beingv arranged whereby the said tract-ion-spokes will be rigidly retained in the spoke-holding disks.

13. A spring wheel comprising a hub, a rim, a plurality of leaf spring spokes connecting the hub and the rim, and a plurality of traction spokes interposed between the hub and the rim having connection with .the

hub and slidablyconnected with the rim, the

of the-rim, pivotbolts connecting opposite lugs of av'pair, on which bolts the spokes are adapted to be mounted, saidlugs having concaved spoke seats adjacent v.to the rim which form bearings for the ends of the' spokes, the ends of the spokes being'spaced' from the rim surface between the opposite ones of the respective airs of lugs, substantially as shown and escribed.

WILLIAM A. BLACK.

five cents each, hy addressing the Commissioner of intents Washington, D. O." 

